Abstract
Cold spray processing of stainless steel coatings, which represent a cost-effective method for wear and corrosion resistance, has been demonstrated as technically feasible. However, these coatings have very low tensile strength in the as-sprayed condition and may also exhibit a marginally higher wear rate. In this study, the cold spraying of 316L stainless steel coatings was investigated to assess the effect of powder size distribution and post-spray heat treatment on strength and wear properties. Coatings on aluminum and steel substrates were produced with a feedstock powder obtained in three particle size distributions. All coatings were deposited under the same conditions using nitrogen as the propellant gas, and then annealed at the optimum temperature. The microstructure and mechanical properties of both as-sprayed and heat-treated coatings were evaluated and the results are presented in the paper.
